Activating Autophagy Promotes Skin Regeneration Induced by Mechanical Stretch During Tissue Expansion

January 2024 in “ Burns and trauma ”

Jing Du, Wei Liu, Yajuan Song, Yu Zhang, Chen Dong, Shaoheng Xiong, Zhaosong Huang, Tong Wang, Jinli Ding, Qiang He, Yu Zhou, Xianjie Ma

autophagy skin regeneration mechanical stretch tissue expansion rapamycin epidermal thickness dermal thickness cell proliferation apoptosis angiogenesis collagen synthesis growth factor secretion skin necrosis

Studysummary In a rat scalp expansion model, this study found that activating autophagy with rapamycin enhanced skin regeneration during tissue expansion by increasing expanded skin area, epidermis and dermis thicknesses, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and other regenerative factors, whereas blocking autophagy reversed these effects.

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This study investigated the role of autophagy in skin regeneration during tissue expansion using a rat scalp model. Autophagy levels peaked 48 hours after mechanical stretch. Activating autophagy with rapamycin enhanced skin expansion, increased epidermal and dermal thickness, and accelerated regeneration by promoting cell proliferation, reducing apoptosis, improving angiogenesis, and boosting collagen synthesis and growth factor secretion. Blocking autophagy reversed these benefits. The findings suggest that modulating autophagy could improve tissue expansion efficiency and reduce skin necrosis complications.

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